In Kansas, Business is always at full throttle. Area Development magazine awarded Kansas its Silver Shovel award in both 2006 and 2007 for top-job creation and investment projects in the "under 3 million population" category - being consistently ranked high on the list for few regulatory and fiscal obstacles is certainly a reason why businesses choose to locate here.

Economic Freedom Index – Pacific Research Institute, in association with Forbes magazine, periodically compiles the U.S. Economic Freedom Index. The most recent report (November 2004) ranked Kansas #1 (best) of the 50 states for overall economic freedom. PRI cited Kansas’ low regulatory burden, low litigation, etc. In developing the rankings, PRI evaluated 143 factors for each state using most recent data (tax rates, state spending, occupational licensing, environmental regulations, income redistribution, right-to-work, prevailing-wage laws, tort laws, number of government agencies, etc.) Kansas ranked #10 overall in PRI’s 1999 report – Kansas trends are favorable. 

The 2007 ILR State Liability Systems Ranking Study ranked Kansas as having one of the most business-friendly litigation (lawsuit) environments in the nation. Kansas ranked #13 overall (1 = best.) Kansas’ ranking has been trending favorably over recent ILR studies.

Kansas is one of only eight Constitutional RTW states. Kansas is a Right-To-Work state by 1958 amendment to the Kansas Constitution. The amendment was supported by 93 of the state's 105 counties and passed by a very substantial margin of 90,000 votes. Of the 22 states that prohibit required union membership (Right-To-Work or RTW states), 14 enacted RTW by state statute. Such statutory RTW laws are vulnerable to legislative reversal. Kansas is among the only eight states enacting RTW by state constitutional amendment. As such, Kansas RTW status can only be changed by a vote of the people, and is not vulnerable to legislative reversal. Unions in Kansas cannot attempt to collect "service fees" from workers who choose to not join the union. Kansas is an "at will" employment state. There are no unusual restrictions. Source: National Right-To-Work Foundation

South Central Kansas is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality attainment area in which environmental regulation does not exceed federal EPA requirements. The region has been in compliance with all EPA criteria air pollutant standards since 1989.

Pollina Corporate Real Estate, one of America's leading corporate site-relocation experts, ranks Kansas in the top 20 for most business-friendly states in the nation. Pollina praised Kansas for "pro-business policies that result in job growth" and a "conducive business atmosphere."

The Directory is a searchable online resource maintained by the City of Wichita Development Assistance Center in cooperation with Sedgwick County Government. It provides phone/fax numbers and e-mail links to City of Wichita and Sedgwick County employees responsible for providing development services in the Wichita metro area. The Directory has Subject, Department and Staff Contact sections. It provides appropriate contacts for wide-ranging subjects such as commercial building permitting and plan review, utilities, zoning, and others.